Do you guys feel slow when not in racer mode?
04-09-06, 07:04 AM
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Do you guys feel slow when not in racer mode?
I had a great extended hammer session on my carbon bike yesterday. On the first really warm day of the year, I felt all oily and fast all decked out with my Shimano 151 carbon soled shoes, bibshorts, Jan Ullrich-Rudy Project helmet...basically my "hardcore" 
training get-up.
However, today I just kind of just wanted to ride around the neighborhood on sort of a recovery ride, so I took out the steel Bianchi, wore a T-shirt, denim jeans, and my footwear consisted of a pair of Van's skateboard tennys.
Here's the thing: I always feel sluggish and slow when I'm in a recreational riding mode. It's an effort to just ride around the park!
It's seems almost like I have to go all-out or rather not ride at all sometimes...
Anybody else have a hard time just cruising around on a casual bike ride?
training get-up.However, today I just kind of just wanted to ride around the neighborhood on sort of a recovery ride, so I took out the steel Bianchi, wore a T-shirt, denim jeans, and my footwear consisted of a pair of Van's skateboard tennys.
Here's the thing: I always feel sluggish and slow when I'm in a recreational riding mode. It's an effort to just ride around the park!
It's seems almost like I have to go all-out or rather not ride at all sometimes...
Anybody else have a hard time just cruising around on a casual bike ride?
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04-09-06, 07:46 AM
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None whatsoever. I do it every day.
04-09-06, 08:02 AM
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A leisurely ride is fun if I'm doing it with other people. When riding solo, I like to go fast. I'm not at all hardcore but I just love the speed. It's what got me into cycling in the first place.
04-09-06, 08:11 AM
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Its Freakin HammerTime!!!
Whats racer mode?
hahaha Im one speed, huffing and pffing mode.
hahaha Im one speed, huffing and pffing mode.
04-09-06, 08:46 AM
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Aluminium Crusader :-)
Originally Posted by Sincitycycler
Here's the thing: I always feel sluggish and slow when I'm in a recreational riding mode. It's an effort to just ride around the park!
04-09-06, 09:00 AM
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The first thing I learned was, if I want to feel fast NEVER ride around the neighborhood. My neighborhood is all long hills. None too terribly steep, but they're everywhere. I always feel like such a slug when riding around here.
Now, with that out of the way, I actually find that I feel slower when doing race-like hammer fests. In fact, I actually AM slower. The folks I ride with are much faster than me, and I can't even hang with the pack. I end up trying to chase them down, but I can't, and wear myself out. When we cruise along at a somewhat slower and more controlled pace, I can keep up fine, and I feel faster too.
The team kit definitely helps with feeling faster though.
Now, with that out of the way, I actually find that I feel slower when doing race-like hammer fests. In fact, I actually AM slower. The folks I ride with are much faster than me, and I can't even hang with the pack. I end up trying to chase them down, but I can't, and wear myself out. When we cruise along at a somewhat slower and more controlled pace, I can keep up fine, and I feel faster too.
The team kit definitely helps with feeling faster though.
04-09-06, 09:24 AM
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I do the round the hood thing all the time. There are two ways I guarantee will get you out of racer mode and into smell the flowers mode. 1. Ride barefoot. 2. Ride a bannana seet highrise. I guarantee you, you will not feel slow.
04-09-06, 09:31 AM
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My beater is a piece of crap, so I don't feel so guitly going slow on it. Any time I do a recovery ride I take the beater.
I'm with you. I feel like a loser going slow all dressed up on a "nice" bike.
I'm with you. I feel like a loser going slow all dressed up on a "nice" bike.
04-09-06, 09:31 AM
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I try to be in recreational mode but "racer" mode get's activated quite easily depending on who I see on the road.
Ironically training alone sometimes makes me less likely to push myself versus someone I'm chasing or having someone breathing down my nexk
Ironically training alone sometimes makes me less likely to push myself versus someone I'm chasing or having someone breathing down my nexk
04-09-06, 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by botto
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04-09-06, 10:30 AM
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Its impossible to turn off the twin towers of pain and pleasure I call my thighs.
heh... how many will recognize that? Best. Blog. Ever.
heh... how many will recognize that? Best. Blog. Ever.
04-09-06, 12:29 PM
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I'm with you. I feel like a loser going slow all dressed up on a "nice" bike.
Originally Posted by DXchulo
My beater is a piece of crap, so I don't feel so guitly going slow on it. Any time I do a recovery ride I take the beater.
I'm with you. I feel like a loser going slow all dressed up on a "nice" bike.
I'm with you. I feel like a loser going slow all dressed up on a "nice" bike.
This is what I really meant.
I just "feel" faster when I'm in my bibshorts vs. baggy mtb shorts or denims.
I know it's all in my head and sounds wack, but your frame of mind really will affect your legs everytime.
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04-09-06, 12:31 PM
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I find it impossible to ride in jeans, not because they slow me down psychologically or much physically for that matter, but because the hem keeps getting caught in the chainrings. Arg. 
04-09-06, 12:38 PM
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You need to ride more!!! The answer is no. When I am on the bike I am either training or commuting. Yeah, I ride slow on my commute but I am heading to work. I can't waste my energy like that.
Originally Posted by Sincitycycler
I had a great extended hammer session on my carbon bike yesterday. On the first really warm day of the year, I felt all oily and fast all decked out with my Shimano 151 carbon soled shoes, bibshorts, Jan Ullrich-Rudy Project helmet...basically my "hardcore" training get-up.
However, today I just kind of just wanted to ride around the neighborhood on sort of a recovery ride, so I took out the steel Bianchi, wore a T-shirt, denim jeans, and my footwear consisted of a pair of Van's skateboard tennys.
Here's the thing: I always feel sluggish and slow when I'm in a recreational riding mode. It's an effort to just ride around the park!
It's seems almost like I have to go all-out or rather not ride at all sometimes...
Anybody else have a hard time just cruising around on a casual bike ride?
training get-up.However, today I just kind of just wanted to ride around the neighborhood on sort of a recovery ride, so I took out the steel Bianchi, wore a T-shirt, denim jeans, and my footwear consisted of a pair of Van's skateboard tennys.
Here's the thing: I always feel sluggish and slow when I'm in a recreational riding mode. It's an effort to just ride around the park!
It's seems almost like I have to go all-out or rather not ride at all sometimes...
Anybody else have a hard time just cruising around on a casual bike ride?
04-09-06, 01:11 PM
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Active recovery only seems to work if I'm listening to terribly depressing music in cargo shorts. I've certainly gotten better at letting most everyone on skinny tires zip by, but it still isn't easy.
